The Clean Air Act requires the agency to review standards every five years. They were last updated to 75 ppb in 2008 under President Bush.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement: “Bringing ozone pollution standards in line with the latest science will clean up our air, improve access to crucial air quality information, and protect those most at-risk.It empowers the American people with updated air quality information to protect our loved ones – because whether we work or play outdoors – we deserve to know the air we breathe is safe.”

Jay Timmons, the president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers believes that the new rules jeopardize manufacturing and said in a statement:

“This new standard comes at the same time dozens of other new EPA regulations are being imposed that collectively place increased costs, burdens and delays on manufacturers, threaten our international competitiveness and make it nearly impossible to grow jobs. Before the Obama administration moves the goalposts with yet another set of requirements that will make it more difficult for manufacturers across the country, they need to allow existing ozone standards to be implemented and give time to American businesses to meet those already stringent and onerous requirements.”